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Flood relief tips

As the flood waters recede and homeowners move their attention from wet basements to their landscapes, they may find themselves a bit overwhelmed. Nationally known gardening expert Melinda Myers provides these tips to help you deal with flood damage.

Assess damage and manage hazards

As the flood waters recede and homeowners move their attention from wet basements to their landscapes, they may find themselves a bit overwhelmed. Nationally known gardening expert, TV host and author Melinda Myers is here to help with important to dos and garden tips to help you along the way. Myers recommends the following:

Assess the damage, manage hazards, and wait for the soil to dry. Then always be sure to manage early plantings of food crops safely by washing produce exposed to flood waters. And play it safe by discarding any garden produce exposed to raw sewage as it can be hazardous to your health. Then repair damaged soil, and watch for signs of flood damage induced problems that may appear later in the season such as root rot or pest infestations.

Assess the damage and manage hazards immediately. Look to certified arborists (tree care professionals) to help with pruning and removal of hazardous branches and trees. They have the skill, equipment and expertise to do the job safely and properly.

Most trees can usually withstand a week or less of flood conditions. More than this and you will start seeing leaves yellow and curl, branches die and extended periods of standing water can cause death for some trees.

In the garden, seedlings and young transplants may have been killed or washed away. If this is the case, wait for the soil to dry before replanting. Early season crops such as leaf lettuce, spinach and radishes should be washed before eating and no garden produce exposed to raw sewage should be consumed.